Pursuant to Sec.
23 of B .P. Blg. 129, in the interest of a speedy and efficient
administration
of justice, and subject to the guidelines hereinafter set fort, the
following
Branches of the Regional Trial Courts, except as hereinunder provided,
are hereby designated exclusively to try and decide cases of:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

A

KIDNAPPING AND/OR
KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM, ROBBERY IN BAND, ROBBERY COMMITTED AGAINST A
BANKING
OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, VIOLATION OF THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1972,
AS AMENDED, REGARDLESS OF THE QUANTITY INVOLVED, VIOLATION OF THE
ANTI-CARNAPPING
ACT OF 1972 AS AMENDED, AND OTHER HEINOUS CRIMES [R. A. No. 7659]
COMMITTED
WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

CONSIDERING
THAT
JURISDICTION FOR VIOLATIONS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
HEREINBEFORE
MENTIONED IS NOW CONFINED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, THE
DESIGNATION OF METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS AND MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN
CITIES UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 113-95 IS DELETED AND WITHDRAWN.

C

LIBEL
CASES
SHALL BE TRIED BY THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS HAVING JURISDICTION OVER
THEM
TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL
COURTS
IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS.

For purposes of this
admininstrative order, all single sala courts are considered special
courts
for all cases covered under Pars. A and B herein, and for this reason,
shall give priority to these cases in their trial calendars.

The cases referred
to herein shall undergo mandatory continous trial and shall be
terminated
within sixty [60] days from commencement of the trial. Judgment thereon
shall be rendered within thirty [30] days from submission for decision
unless a shorter period is provided by law or otherwise directed by
this
Court.

Where trial has already
begun, the same shall continue to be heard by the respective Branches
to
which they have been originally assigned. For purposes hereof, a
criminal
case is considered begun when the accused or any of them has already
been
arraigned; in a civil case, it is when pre-trial has already been
conducted
and a pre-trial order issued.

The Executive Judges
of the Regional Trial Courts concerned shall exclude these designated
Special
Courts from the raffle of other cases, criminal and civil, whenever in
their judgment the caseload of these courts shall prevent them from
conducting
daily trial of the special cases herein specified.

The Branches thus
designated as Special Courts shall continue to perform their functions
as such within the purview of this Admininstrative Order even after the
retirement, transfer or detail of the incumbent judges
appointed/designated
to preside over them. Their successors, whether permanent or temporary,
shall act as Presiding Judges of these Special Courts unless the
Supreme
Court otherwise directs.

No postponement or
continuance shall be allowed except for clearly meritorious reasons.
Pleadings
or motions found to have been filed for dilatory purposes shall
constitute
direct contempt and shall be punished accordingly.

This Administrative
Order amends or otherwise supersedes Adm. Order No. 173-94 dated 28
September
1994, Adm. Order No. 51-96 dated 3 May 1996, and Adm. Order No. 113-95
dated 2 October 1995, and such other orders, circulars, memoranda or
issuances,
if any, as may be inconsistent herewith.

This Order shall
take effect fifteen [15] days after its publication in a newspaper of
general
circulation.